The hormone insulin is foran is important from system metabolism body. Without the hormone insulin, cells will lack of energy and must find a replacement source.
When the body can no longer produce insulin or when the insulin produced by the pancreas cannot work optimally, insulin injections are needed to replace the function of the natural hormone insulin.
Insulin is a natural hormone produced by the pancreas. When we eat, the pancreas releases the hormone insulin, which allows the body to convert glucose into energy and distribute it throughout the body. This one hormone also helps the body store this energy.
Relationship between Blood Sugar and Insulin
Insulin helps control blood sugar (glucose) levels in the body. It does this by signaling fat, muscle, and liver cells to take glucose from the blood and convert it into glycogen (muscle sugar) in muscle cells, triglycerides in fat cells, and both in liver cells. This is a form of energy source stored by the body.
As long as the pancreas produces enough insulin and the body can use it properly, blood sugar levels will always be in a healthy range. Because in essence, glucose levels that are too much or too little are not good for health.
A buildup of glucose in the blood (hyperglycemia) can cause complications, such as kidney and nerve damage, and eye problems. While too little glucose in the blood (hypoglycemia) can make us feel tired, irritable, confused, to lose consciousness alias fainting.
And when there is not enough insulin in the blood, the body's cells will start to starve. Insufficient insulin means glucose cannot be broken down and means cells cannot use it. As a result, fat begins to be broken down to make energy. The process then results in the buildup of chemicals called ketones.
Ketones that accumulate in the blood and urine are very dangerous because they can trigger the condition of ketoacidosis in diabetics. Ketoacidosis can even be life-threatening if not treated quickly. Symptoms include frequent urination for one or more days, feeling very thirsty and tired, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, drowsiness, and loss of consciousness.
If insulin is disturbed
If insulin production or work is disrupted, some of these diseases or conditions can attack you:
- insulin resistance. This condition occurs when muscle, fat, and liver cells cannot use insulin properly. As a result, the pancreas will work extra to produce more insulin so that glucose can be used as energy. If left untreated, over time insulin resistance will develop into diabetes.
- Diabetes mellitus. A disease in which blood sugar levels become too high due to the body's inability to use glucose for energy. Glucose can not be changed because the amount of insulin in the body is not enough, or the body's cells do not react to insulin. Insulinomas, which are small tumors in the pancreas, will result in excessive insulin production. That is why abnormalities in the hormone insulin can be a risk factor for diabetes.
- Metabolic syndrome, which is a group of conditions that can increase your risk of heart disease and other health problems, such as stroke and diabetes. On the other hand, a condition in which insulin does not work effectively to lower blood sugar levels, known as insulin resistance, can also increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is a medical condition that causes problems with the functioning of the ovaries. PCOS causes levels of several hormones in the body to become abnormal, including higher levels of the hormone insulin. Many women with PCOS also have insulin resistance. As a result, the body will produce more insulin.
Insulin is one of the important hormones in the body. Without the hormone insulin, cells will lack energy and must find alternative energy sources. As a result, life-threatening complications can occur. Therefore, it is important to regularly check your health condition to the doctor and do regular blood sugar checks. If there are signs of interference with insulin, the doctor will begin to determine the appropriate treatment steps.